Australian Football

Parkside Amateurs

The Devils are one of two clubs in the Melbourne metropolitan area bearing the name of Parkside. Formed in 1934, the club spent its first four seasons competing in the Churches Football League, claiming a premiership in 1936. Between 1938 and 2002, apart from the war years, Parkside was a proud and successful member of the Victorian Amateur Football Association. Its first senior grade flag in this competition was captured in 1954 in C Section. Opposed in the grand final by Old Xaverians, the Devils’ 15.19 (109) to 8.12 (60) triumph capped an unbeaten season.

All told, Parkside won a total of five senior grade premierships in the VAFA during this initial stint with pride of place going to the 1988 combination which comfortably overcame the grand final challenge of a rather wayward Kew in B Section. Scores were Parkside 15.8 (98) defeated Kew 5.18 (48).

In 2003 the club ventured to pastures new by crossing to the Diamond Valley Football League which four years later was reconstituted as the Northern Football League. The Devils’ most recent senior grade flag was captured in the NFL’s third division in 2009 thanks to a 12.9 (81) to 8.17 (65) grand final defeat of Hurstbridge.

The Devils crossed back to the VAFA in 2015 and, competing in Division Four, made it through to a grand final at the first time of asking. Outplayed in the first half by opponents Canterbury they lifted their game in the final two quarters but not sufficiently to overhaul the Cobras who got home by 15 points, 8.11 (59) to 6.8 (44). The Devils still obtained promotion to Division Three, of course, but they found life at the higher level problematical, winning just 2 games en route to the wooden spoon and, with it, relegation back to Division Four. They were reasonably competitive in 2017 but just failed to qualify for the finals after winning 9 and losing 7 matches. A year later they again made the finals and ultimately made it as far as a losing grand final clash with North Brunswick.